EXPANSION OF THE BCPO COMMUNITY AFFAIRS UNIT

TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA

FROM: PROSECUTOR GURBIR S. GREWAL

DATE: JANUARY 12, 2018

Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announces the expansion of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s ("BCPO") Community Affairs Unit ("CAU") and the designation of a new press contact. Prosecutor Grewal created the CAU in June 2017 with a mission to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the community, increase public safety, and deter crime through developing programs that increase community engagement, build public trust, and promote transparency. These programs include a two-week Youth Police Academy which is run in cooperation with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, multi-disciplinary conferences, a quarterly Community/Clergy Academy, and partnerships with local and county law enforcement agencies and non-profit organizations. The CAU also supports and promotes local law enforcement community programs, education initiatives, and day-to-day operations through social media and public promotion.

This model has proven successful, and the BCPO is committed to prioritizing positive relations between law enforcement and the community. Under the direction of Assistant Prosecutor ("AP") Section Chief Elizabeth Rebein and Lieutenant Jeff Angermeyer, six administrative, creative, and Detective personnel have been assigned to staff the Unit. Along with the expansion of the Unit, Prosecutor Grewal has restructured certain duties, including AP Rebein as the point of contact for all media inquiries.

The BCPO’s community initiatives and programs will appear on the BCPO social media accounts, namely Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram under the username @BCPONJ. Additionally, many events will be live-streamed using these social media platforms to broadcast segments online, as they happen, where they happen.